Introducing Ataya

Ataya is an approximately 100,688-acre forested landscape in southeastern Kentucky and northeastern Tennessee. The Ataya is located in the Central Appalachians, and is situated in the historic territories of the S’atsoyaha (Yuchi), Shawandasse Tula (Shawnee), and the Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East) nations. You can explore these territorial claims here: (https://native-land.ca/). The nearest largest metropolitan area to Ataya is Knoxville, TN (population 186,173). According to LANDFIRE’s Biophysical Settings (BpS), the top three (3) historically dominant forest ecosystem types in Ataya were: Southern Appalachian Oak Forest, South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest, and Southern Appalachian Cove Forest. Historically in Southern Appalachian Oak Forests, low severity surface fires with fire intervals of 7-26 years were the dominant ecosystem disturbance. Other important historic disturbances in the forests of the Ataya included insect outbreaks, ice storms, windthrow, and drought.

The forests in the Central Appalachians experienced considerable alteration from European colonization and land use changes. Important land use and ecological changes included extensive clear-cut logging in the early 20th century, coal mining, the functional extinction of the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) and fire-suppression policies enacted in the early 20th century. Currently, the Central Appalachians are facing population reductions in fire tolerant/shade intolerant species such as oaks (Quercus sp.) and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata). Drastic population declines are also evident in eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) due to the introduction of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. Lastly, various invasive plants (i.e. kudzu, autumn olive, Japanese stilt grass) are also important threats to Central Appalachian forest biodiversity and resiliency.

The Ataya is of conservation interest due to the relatively high connectivity, large average land parcel size and projected climate change resiliency.